Leg-rest actuating means for multipleposition reclining chairs



y 1962 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,033,611

LEG-REST ACTUATING MEANS FOR MULTIPLE-POSITION RECLINING CHAIRS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 11, 1959 INVENTOR. FQ/DIJOF F. JCl/L/EPHACKE Grromwys y 1962 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,033,611

LEG-REST ACTUATING MEANS FOR MULTIPLE-POSITION RECLINING CHAIRS Filed Aug. 11, 1959 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

IN V EN TOR. FR lDTJOF /-T SCAIL/ZPA A Ck" QMZLQ y 8, 1962 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,033,611

LEG-REST ACTUATING MEANS FOR MULTIPLE-POSITION RECLINING CHAIRS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 11, 1959 FIG. 6.

nrraklvexS United States Patent ()fi ice 3,633,611 Patented May 8, 1962 3,033,611 LEG-REST ACTUATING MEANS FOR MULTIPLE- POSITION RECLINING CHAIRS Fridtjof F. Schliephacke, Beriinclimargendorf, Germany, assignor to Anton Lorenz Filed Aug. 11, 1959, Ser. No. 833,091 6 Claims. (Cl. 297-88) The present invention relates to improvements in reclining chairs of the multiple position type, and in particular relates to an improved leg-rest actuating means for a chair of this type.

An. example of the multiple position reeling chair is the so-called two position chair in which the body-supporting unit, in the nature of a seat and back-rest formed rigidly with each other, is mounted on a support frame for rearward tilting movement to two distinct tilted positions. A leg-rest is also mounted for movement in response to the tilting movement of the body-supporting unit, the leg-rest being movable from aretracted position beneath the seat to an extended posiiton forwardly of the seat. The unique characteristic of two-position reclining chairs is the location of the leg-rest in a fully extended leg-supporting position in each of the two distinot tilted positions of the body-supporting unit. The first of such distinct positions of the unit is a slightlytilted active position with the occupants body in a substantially upright attitude suitable for viewing television, talking, reading or the like. In such position (hereinafter designated as an intermediate tilted position) the leg-rest has already moved to an extended position for supporting the occupants legs. The body-supporting unit-can then, when desired, be tilted further to an inactive position (hereinafter referred to as a fully-tilted position) in which the occupants body is disposed in a more supine or recumbent position of relaxation. In this fully-tilted position, the leg-rest is still extended in a leg-supporting position.

A difficulty encountered in the construction of twoposition chairs of this type resides in the provision of suitable means for moving the leg-rest to a leg-supporting extended position during the initial phase of motion of the body-supporting unit from the upright sitting position to the intermediate tilted position, and then maintaining the leg-rest in the leg-supporting position while the body-supporting unit moves further to a fully-tilted.

position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide legrest actuating means for advancing the leg-rest rapidly to an extended leg-supporting position when the bodysupporting unit is moved to the intermediate tilted position and for maintaining the leg-rest in its extended position with no further relative movement between the seat and leg-rest when the body-supporting unit is then advanced to its fully-tilted position.

Another object of the invention is'the provision of leg-rest actuating means of the character described which is simple in construction and operation with a minimum of movable parts, so as to be economical in manufacture.

In accordance with the invention there is provided in a reclining chair having a support frame and a body-supporting unit, a carrier member, pivotally mounted on the support frame and carrying the body-supporting unit for movement of the latter from an upright sitting position to an intermediate tilted position, the carrier member being then movable on the support frame and carrying the body-supporting unit from the intermediate tilted .position to a fully-tilted position. A leg-rest is pivotally mounted on the forward end portion of the seat and is connected by a link to the forward end of the carrier member, for movement of the leg-rest to an extended leg-supporting position when the body-supporting unit is moved rearwardly relative to the carrier member.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view with parts broken away and shown in section, of a reclining chair incorporating one form of leg-rest actuating means made in accordance with the invention, the chair being shown in an upright sitting position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the chair in its intermediate tilted position with the leg-rest extended in its leg-supporting position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 1, but showing the chair in its fully-tilted position;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view with parts broken away and shown in section, of a reclining chair incorporating a modified type of le est actuating means made in accordance with the invention, the chair being shown in its upright sitting position;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the chair shown in FIG. 4, with the chair shown in its intermediate tilted position; and

PEG. 6 is a side elevational view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5, but showing the chair thereof in its fully-tilted position.

Referring now specifically to the drawings and in par-' ticular to FIGS. l3, the reclining chair shown therein comprises a base or support frame designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and having spaced side walls 12 inter-connected by cross bars or braces 14 and 16. The chair also includes a body-supporting unit, designated by the reference numeral 18, and comprising a seat 20 and a back-rest 22 formed rigidly with each other. The body-supporting unit 18 is movably mounted on the support frame 10 for movement relative thereto from the upright sitting position of FIG. 1 to the active intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2, and then to an inactive fully-tilted position shown in FIG. 3. The mounting of the body-supporting unit 18 on the support frame 10 is accomplished by a carrier member 24 and guide means connecting the body-supporting unit to said carrier member.

The carrier member 24 is mounted at its rear end, by pivot 26 on the support frame 10. The guide means for the body-supporting unit comprises a front guide link 28 36 which is journalled by axle 36 on an extension 38 of the carrier member 24. The roller engages the lower surface 20a of the seat 20 and is limited to movement between two stop members 40 and 42 carried by the seat.

The chair also includes a leg-rest 44 which is mounted by pivot 46 on the forward end of the seat 20. The legrest 44 has a rigid ear 48 spaced from the pivot 46 and connected by pivot 50 to one end of an actuating link 52. The other end of the link 52 is connected by pivot 54 to the forward end of the carrier member 24.

' In the upright sitting position of the'chair shown in FIG. 1, the carrier member 24 rests upon the front'cross bar 14 to provide a rigid support for the body-supporting unit 18. The front guide link' 28 is in an upright position and slightly forwardly inclined, and the roller 30 is in engagement with the rear stop member 42. The'leg-rest 44 is in a retracted position extending downwardly beneath the forward end of the seat 20. 7

When the occupant of the chair exerts rearward pressure against the back-rest 22, the guide link 28 turns rears.) wardly about its pivotal mount 34 on the carrier member 24 to move the front end of the seat 20 rearwardly, while at the same time, the seat lower surface 26a rides rear- Wardly on the roller 30. The body-supporting unit 18 is therefore brought by the guide means to the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2. It will be observed that in this first phase of motion, the front guide link 28 pivots to a more upstanding position to raise the forward end of the seat 20 while the lower seat surface 20a slants downwardly and rearwardly so as to lower the rear end portion of the seatv as said surface Zita rides along the roller 30. The body-supporting unit 18 is therefore moved rearwardly and simultaneously tilted slightly.

The intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2 is determined by the engagement of the front stop member 40 with the roller 30. The seat 20 can therefore no longer move rearwardly relative to the carrier member 24. The seat is also prevented from turning about the roller 30 by the restraining influence of the front guide link 28. Thus, in the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2, the body-supporting-unit 18 is rigidly coupled to the carrier member 24.

As the forward end portion of the seat 20 moves upwardly and rearwardly, it carries with it the pivotal connection 46 of the leg-rest 44. The actuating link 52 thereupon acts as a pusher link to restrain rearward movement of the leg-rest at its connected point 50. The leg-rest 44 therefore turns around its pivotal mount 46 and is raised to its extended position of FIG. 2 wherein it is positioned to support the legs. of the chair occupant. During this movement, the actuating lirrk 52 turns slightly about its pivotal mount 54 to permit the pivot 46 to turn about the pivot 51) and at the same time to move rearwardly as directed by the guide means 28, 30.

It will be observed that in the active or intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2, the body-supporting unit 18 is only slightly tilted and the occupants body is supported in a substantially upright attitude suitable for reading, viewing television, or the. like. At the same time the legrest 44 is fully extended and properly positioned to support the outstretched legs of the occupant.

If the occupant of the chair in the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2 wishes to assume a more reclined position for greater relaxation, he. need only apply further rearward pressure against the back-rest, 22, to bring the body-supporting unit 18 to the fully-tilted position of FIG; 3. The rearward shift of the occupants weight changes the center of gravity of the body-supporting unit and causes the carrier member 24 to turn in a clock-wise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, about the pivotal mount 26. The forward end of the carrier member 24 is therefore raised relative to the support frame 10, and sincev the body-supporting unit 13 is now rigidly coupled to the carrier member 24, said body-supporting unit is carried further rearwardly with the carrier member about the fixed pivot 26 to the fully reclined position shown in FIG. 3. This position is determined and limited by engagement of the rear portion of the seat 20 with; the rear crossbar 16.

Since the body-supporting-unit. is rigidly coupled. with the carrier member 30 by engagement of the stop member 40 with the roller 30, there is not relative movement of the. body-supporting unit and carrier member during this second phase of movement from the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2 to the fully-tilted position of FIG. 3. The leg-rest 44 is therefore maintained in its extended position when the body-supporting unit arrives at the fully-tilted position.

To return from the fully-tilted position to the intermediate. tilted position, it is only necessary for the occupantto shift his weight forwardly, thereby moving forward the center of gravity of the body-supporting unit and causing the latter to turn forwardly about the pivot 26 until it again reaches the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2. To return from, the intermediate. tilted position to the upright sitting position, the occupant need merely :1. apply downward pressure on the leg-rest 44, this pressure causing the body-supporting unit 18 to move forwardly on the guide link 28 and roller 39.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 4 to 6, there is shown a reclining chair incorporating a modified type of leg-rest actuating means made in accordance with the invention and diifering from the previous embodiment in that a rear guide link replaces the rear roller. Similar parts are given like reference numerals, except in this instance the numerals are part of a series.

The reclining chair illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6 again comprises a base or support frame designated generally by the reference numeral 110, which includes spaced side walls 112 inter-connected by cross bars or braces 114 and 116. The chair again includes a body-supporting unit, designated generally by the reference numeral 118, and comprisng a seat and a back-rest 122 formed rigidly with each other. The body-supporting unit 118 is movably mounted by a guide means on a carrier member 124 for movement relative thereto from the upright sitting position of FIG. 4 to the active intermediate tilted position of FIG. 5, the carrier member being then movable on the support frame to bring the body-supporting unit to an inactive fully-tilted position shown in FIG. 6.

The rear end of carrier member 124 is mounted by pivot 126 on the support frame 110. In this instance, the guide means comprises front guide link 128 as well as a rear guide link 160. The pair of guide links 128 and 160 are pivotally connected at spaced points on the seat 120 by respective pivots 132 and 162. At its lower end the front guide. link 128 is mounted on the carrier member 124 by pivot 134, while the lower end of the rear guide link 160 is mounted on pivot 126 which also connects the carrier member 124 to the support frame 110. It is to be understood that the rear guide link 160 may also be mounted on a rear portion of the carrier member 124 spaced from the pivotal mount 126'.

The chair also includes a leg-rest 144 which is mounted by pivot 146 on the forward end portion of the seat 120. The leg-rest carries an ear or lug 148 spaced from the pivot 146, which ear 148 is connected by pivot 150 to the forward end of an actuating link 152. The other end of the actuating link 152 is connected by pivot 154 to the forward end of the carrier member 124. The pivot 146, in the sitting position of FIG. 4, is located above and forwardly of the. pivot 150.

In the upright sitting position of the chair, shown in FIG. 4, the carrier member 124 rests upon the front crossbar 114 to provide a rigid support for the body-supporting unit 118. The guide links 128' and are in a substantially upright position, while the leg-rest 144 is in a retracted position extending downwardly beneath the forward end of the. seat 120. The rear guide link 160 rests against a stop member 166 on the carrier member 124 to prevent the seat from moving forwardly.

When the occupant of the chair exerts rearward pressure against the back-rest 122, the guide links 128 and 160 turn rearwardly about their respective pivotal mounts 134 and 126 on the carrier member 124 to bring the body-supporting unit 118' to its intermediate tilted position of FIG. 5. Since, the front guide link 128 is longer than the rear guide link 160 and is more forwardly inclined, the front guide link raises the forward portion of the seat 126 while the rear guide link 160' pivots rearwardly and downwardly to lower the rear portion. of the.

said seat.

The intermediate tilted position of FIG. 5 is determined by the engagement of the front guide link 128 with a stop member 164 on the carrier member 124, so that in the intermediate tilted position the. body-supporting unit 118 is rigidly coupled to said carrierv member.

As the body-supporting unit 118 is moved rearwalfdly to its intermediate tilted position, the pivot 146 is drawn rearwardly with the seat 120 relative to the pivot 150, causing the actuating link 152 to exert a pushing force on the leg-rest at point 156 The leg-rest 144 is thus turned about its pivotal mount 146 and is raised to its extended leg-supporting position of FIG. 5.

In the active or intermediate tilted position of FIG. 5, the body-supporting unit 11-8 is only slightly tilted and the occupants body is supported in a substantially upright attitude suitable for reading, viewing television, or the like. At the same time the leg-rest 144 is fully extended and properly positioned to support the outstretched legs of the occupant.

To bring the body-supporting unit 118 to a fully-tilted position the occupant merely exerts further rearward pressure against the back-rest 122. The rearward shift of the occupants weight changes the center of gravity of the body-supporting unit and causes the carrier member 124 to turn about the pivotal mount 126. The forward end of the carrier member 124 is therefore raised relative to the support frame 116, and since the body-supporting unit 1 18 is now rigidly coupled to the carrier member 124, said body-supporting unit is tilted further rearwardly about the fixed pivot 126 to the fully reclined position of FIG. 6, which is determined by engagement of the rear portion of the seat 120 with the rear cross bar 116.

During movement of the unit 1 18 from the intermediate tilted position to the fully tilted position, the bodysupporting unit 118 is rigidly coupled with the carrier member 124 by engagement of the front guide link 128 with the stop member 164, and there is thus no relative movement of the rear guide link and carrier member during this second phase of movement. The leg-rest is therefore maintained immovable in its extended position in the fully-tilted position of the body-supporting unit.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it is obvious that numerous omissions, changes and additions may be made in such embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a multiple position reclining chair having a support frame, a body-supporting unit, a carrier member movably mounted on the support frame, and guide means including at least one guide link mounting the body-supporting unit on the carrier member for rearward tilting movement of the body-supporting unit relative to the carrier member during a first motion phase in which the carrier member is stationary, the carrier member being then movable relative to the support frame during a second motion phase in which it carries the body-supporting unit further rearwardly; a leg-rest assembly comprising a leg-rest, a first pivot mounting one end of the leg-rest on the forward portion of the seat, a single actuating link for moving the leg-rest from a retracted position beneath the seat to an extended position forwardly of the seat in response to movement of the body-supporting unit during said first motion phase, a second pivot connecting the forward end of the actuating link to a point on the legrest spaced from the pivotal mount of the leg-rest on the seat, and a third pivot connecting the other end of the actuating link to the forward end portion of the carrier member, the actuating link extending upwardly and forwardly from the third pivot to the second pivot and the effective length of the actuating link being the distance between the second and third pivots during the first motion phase whereby the actuating link raises the leg-rest to its extended position, the effective length of the actuating link being the distance between the second pivot and the movable mount of the carrier member on the support frame during the second motion phase, whereby the leg-rest is maintained in its extended position.

2. In a multiple position reclining chair having a support frame, a body-supporting unit, a carrier member movably mounted on the support frame, and guide means mounting the body-supporting unit on the carrier member for rearward tilting movement of the body-supporting unit'relative to the carrier member during a first motion phasein which the carrier member is stationary, the carrier member being then movable relative to the support frame during a second motion phase in which it carries the body-supporting unit further rearwardly; a leg-rest assembly comprising a leg-rest, a first pivot mounting one end of the leg-rest on the forward portion of the seat, a-

single actuating link for moving the leg-rest from a retracted position beneath the seat to an extended position forwardly of the seat in response ,to movement of the body-supporting unit during said first motion phase, a second pivot connecting the forward end of the actuating link to a point on the leg-rest spaced rearwardly and below the pivotal mount of the leg-rest on the seat when the leg-rest is in its retracted position, and a third pivot connecting the other end of the actuating link to the forward end portion of the carrier member, the actuating link extending upwardly and forwardly from the third pivot to the second pivot and the effective length of the actuating link being the distance between the second and third pivots during the first motion phase whereby the actuating link raises the leg-rest to its extended position, the efiective length of the actuating link being the distance between the second pivot and the movable mount of the carrier member on the support frame during the second motion phase, whereby the leg-rest is maintained in its extended position.

3. A leg-rest assembly according to claim 2 in which said guide means includes a front guide link connecting the forward portion of the seat to the carrier member, a roller journalled on the rear portion of the carrier member and engaging the lower surface of the seat rear portion.

4. A leg-rest assembly according to claim 2 in which said guide means comprises a front guide link and a rear guide link pivotally mounted at spaced points on said carrier member and pivotally connected at spaced points to said seat.

5. A leg-rest assembly according to claim 3 in which said seat carries a pair of spaced depending stop members located on opposite sides of said roller and limiting the movement of the seat rear portion along said roller.

6. A multiple position reclining chair comprising a support frame, a body-supporting unit, a carrier member pivotally mounted on the support frame, front and rear guide means mounting the body-supporting unit on thecarrier member for rearward tilting movement of the body-supporting unit relative to the carrier member during a first motion phase to an intermediate tilted position, means to halt further rearward movement of the bodysupporting unit relative to said carrier member at said intermediate tilted position, whereby said carrier member turns rearwardly about its pivotal mount on the support frame during a second motion phase in which the bodysupporting unit is carried to a fully-tilted position, a legrest swingably mounted on the forward end portion of the seat, and leg-rest actuating means for moving the legrest from a retracted position beneath the seat to an extended position forwardly of the seat in response to movement of the body-supporting unit during said first motion phase, said actuating means comprising a single actuating link pivotally mounted on the forward end of said carrier member, and means connecting the actuating link to the leg-rest at a point below the pivotal mount of the leg-rest on the seat, the actuating link pushing the legrest upwardly when the seat and the connected leg-rest move rearwardly relative to the carrier member during the first motion phase, with the effective length of the actuating link being the distance between the pivotal mount of the actuating link on the carrier member and 7 8 the pivotal connection of the actuating link with the leg- References Cited ii the file of this patent rest during said first motion phase, the actuating link rising-with the carrier member during the second motion UNITED i PATENTS phase and its efiective length being the distance between 2,875,812 Schliephakc Mar. 3,. 1959 its pivotal connection with the leg-rest and the pivotal 5 2,890,743 Schliephacke June 16, 1959 mount of the carrier member on the support frame. 2,918,113 Lorenz Dec. 22, 1959' 

